On January 15th, the Embassy of Italy in London hosted the presentation of Prof. Brunello Rosa's new book, "Smart Money: How digital currencies will win the new Cold War - and why the West needs to act now," which was included by the Financial Times in its list of the best economics books of 2024. The presentation was part of “Finance Unplugged: exploring new dimensions,” a new series of Embassy events dedicated to fintech and digital finance topics.

Brunello Rosa is a macroeconomist and strategic consultant with extensive expertise in economic policy. He is currently the CEO and Head of Research at Rosa & Roubini Associates, as well as an Honorary Professor and Visiting Professor at City, University of London. Anna Irrera, Senior Editor of Bloomberg's Crypto team, has a decade of experience in fintech and the impact of technology on financial institutions and markets.

The discussion focused on the crucial topic of the geopolitics of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Over one hundred countries are currently developing CBDCs—digital equivalents to cash—that are set to significantly transform the way business is conducted at both national and international levels. However, these innovations carry controversial implications, including risks to privacy and banking system stability, as well as the reorganization of the financial architecture.